Photos: Wisconsin sections of Rock River Trail declared open

The course of the Rock River as it flows through the Wisconsin cities of Horicon, Hustisford, Mayville, Theresa, Watertown and Janesville now has signs denoting those sections of the river as part of the Rock River Trail. Representatives from the National Park Service and the Wisconsin and Illinois Departments of Natural Resources have given their permission to erect the sign denoting the trail. As sections of the trail are marked, maps are being made and the trail plan is being written, along with other requirements to submit an application for the formal designation as a national trail. The signs seen here are for the water trail section. Legislation has been written (and is now undergoing amendment) and passed by Illinois Legislature for the Scenic and Historic highway trail portion of the Rock River Trail Initiative. Wisconsin legislators are drafting a similar bill. Two weeks ago, we featured photos of signs being delivered to Byron, Oregon and the Quad Cities in Illinois. This week, we proudly present the signs being delivered in Wisconsin.

Aug. 6 another section of the trail was opened near Waupun by (all not pictured) Farnham, Waupun Public Works Director and Rock River Trail Initiative Council Member Dick Flynn, Wisconsin State Representative Richard Spanbauer, Waupun Mayor Jodi Steger and Wisconsin State Senator Jessica King. The opening was held at Harris Mill Park near the Waupun Dam on the South Branch of the Rock River (and on the Northern Water Trail section).

From the Aug. 15-21, 2012, issue